Drillers Rally Past Hooks
Published on April 17, 2007 under Texas League (TL1)
Tulsa Drillers News Release
In their final meeting in the first-half of the season, the Tulsa Drillers continued their successful play against the Corpus Christi Hooks Tuesday night. Trailing 3-2, the Drillers scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning and posted a 4-2 victory. It was Tulsa's fifth win in six games against the Hooks this season.
The pivotal seventh inning began with a leadoff single by Christian Colonel, but Hooks' starter Troy Patton looked to have ended the threat by striking out Aaron Rifkin and Jeff Dragicevich, but Tommy Duenas kept the inning alive with a single to right field. Jordan Czarniecki, pinch-hitting for Franklin Morales, then tied the game with a line drive single to center that scored Colonel. Jonathan Herrera followed with the fourth single of the inning that plated Duenas with what proved to be the game-winning run.
Tulsa had taken an early 2-0 lead with a pair of first-inning runs off Patton, one of the top prospects in the Houston Astros' minor league system. The game began with consecutive, bunt singles by Herrera and Chris Frey. Matt Miller made it three straight hits with a double to left that scored both runners.
The Hooks tied the game in the fourth. Neil Sellers made it 2-1 with his third homer of the year to lead off the inning. Todd Self singled and later scored on a base hit by Francisco Caraballo that evened the score at 2-2.
Corpus Christi took the lead in the fifth inning when Drew Sutton led off with a single and eventually scored on a ground out.
The comeback win allowed Tulsa to hand Patton his first loss of the season. The left-hander worked seven innings, allowing ten hits and four runs. He did not walk a hitter while striking out four.
Jarrett Grube (1-0) gained the win for the Drillers with two scoreless innings in relief of Morales. Register picked up his fourth save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.
Herrera led the Drillers offensively, finishing a perfect 4-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He now has six straight hits over the past two games. Miller and Colonel each had two hits as Tulsa out-hit Corpus Christi 11-9.
The victory gave the Drillers two wins in its three-game series with the Hooks and allowed them to finish their road trip with a 3-3 record. It also evened their overall record at 6-6 and left them in a first-place tie with Wichita.
Tulsa will begin a 4-game series against the Springfield Cardinals at 7:05PM Thursday night in Drillers Stadium. Ryan Matthues (0-0, 4.09 ERA) will pitch the opener for the Drillers, while the Redbirds will counter with Eric Haberer (0-0, 11.25 ERA).
Texas League Stories from April 17, 2007
- Midland Blanks Travs 2-0 - Arkansas Travelers
- Herrera, Czarniecki Lead Drillers Past Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Drillers Rally Past Hooks - Tulsa Drillers
- Riders Ride Out of Town with 5-2 Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Texas League update - TL1
- Drillers Hosting Redbirds April 19-22 - Tulsa Drillers
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